Page 29 of Close Protection

‘Most of my friends live in other countries so I never really see them here, but some of my extended family live nearby, so I’ve run into them on occasion.’ I hear a car door slamming in the distance and I flinch, letting out a sharp gasp. Milosh looks down at me with a puzzled expression as he presses the button to call the lift.

‘I’ve been a little jumpy since the break-in,’ I explain.

Understatement of the century.

I’ve not just been jumpy but paranoid too. Since the break-in, I haven’t been able to go downstairs at night and even got scared of the wind lightly tapping on my bedroom window as I got ready this morning.

After the break-in, all Henry told me was that the man was looking for something to do with Daddy’s work and he hurt me so he could escape without any problems. But I just don’t understand what he could be working on that’s so important someone would strangle me to get their hands on it. Nothing has been normal since I got back from school so I need to make this shopping tripcount. Because until they catch the man that guy was working for, I still remain at risk.

‘On the off-chance we see anyone you know,’ Milosh says, taking me out of my head and back into the conversation, ‘they ideally shouldn’t know I’m your… bodyguard.’

‘Why?’

‘Because normally when you let someone know that you – a regular person – have a bodyguard, people start to worry, then they start to ask questions. Questions that neither of us want to answer. So it’s easier if you introduce me as your friend or something.’

‘Mr Petrov.’ I gaze over at him. ‘I mean this in the nicest way possible. No one would believe that you and I are friends.’ It’s not that I don’t have male friends. It’s that I have no male friends that look or act remotely like him. Where Milosh Petrov is sharp, rough and direct, my male friends are preppy, book-smart and not athletic in the least.

‘Fine, then introduce me as your boyfriend instead.’ He sighs.

‘Okay, if no one would believe you’re my friend, why would they believe you’re my boyfriend? Have you seen the way you dress, Mr Petrov?’ He looks at me with the most bored expression a person could make as we walk into the lift.

I step back and try to look at him objectively, as if I were one of my friends seeing him for the first time. I take in the combat-style boots, black cargos and black T-shirt. The dark hair and the sharply structured facial features. He stands with authority and dominance, physically and metaphorically taking up the space he enters. ‘You’re a literal walking Pinterest board for the bodyguard aesthetic. The whole army brat thing is not the look I traditionally go for.’

‘And what is? Cable knits and dickies?’ Amusement dances in his eyes as he presses the button for the first floor.

‘No, I’m more of a quarter-zip and gilet kinda girl.’ I try to picture him in the outfit of a man I would typically go for.

Yeah, no, I candefinitelywork with that.

‘Okay, so if we’re really gonna sell this we’re gonna need to get you some new clothes.’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Mr Petrov, you said that I shouldn’t tell people you’re my bodyguard, but I won’t have to if you’re wearing that.’ I gesture to his ensemble. ‘So if you’re going to play the boyfriend role, you need to look the part.’

‘Believe me, Miss Green.’ He dips his head until his mouth is hovering over my earlobe. ‘If I’m playing the roleofboyfriend, it’s not the clothes that will convince them.’ I shake off the involuntary shiver that runs through my body and focus. ‘But it’s your shopping day, so I’ll humour you. Where to first?’

14Daphne

‘Goodness, no. Take it off.’ I sip my water and look around the shop again, hoping something else will jump out at me as Milosh goes back into the changing room. ‘How many tops do we have now?’ I ask the sales associate next to me.

‘We have four tops, two pairs of trousers and one jumper so far.’

‘Thank you,’ I reply with a smile. ‘We just need a quarter-zip and a gilet, then we’re good to go,’ I call out to Milosh.

He appears a minute later wearing dark-wash jeans, a navy quarter-zip jumper with a navy blue gilet over the top and some loafers.

He looks good. Really good.

‘Much better.’ I smile, walking over to him so I can take a closer look at the fit. ‘And everything fits you reallywell!’ I was slightly concerned that we’d have trouble finding something to fit his broad shoulders while also being long enough, but this jumper moulds perfectly to his body. ‘Do you have this outfit but in black?’ I ask the sales associate.

‘Let me go and check.’ She walks off, leaving me and Milosh alone.

‘So, what do you think?’ I ask. From what I’ve seen, he’s only looked at himself once since he walked out of the changing room, and even then it was rushed.

‘It’s fine,’ he states simply, moving a step closer to me. ‘If this is what you want, then let’s get it.’

‘Okay. Do you want to wear this out of the shop?’ I hold my breath when he tucks a few stray hairs behind my ear delicately, his hand lingering briefly.

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